Mom glares at him. “Sit down. I have something to say, and I want you to listen to me.”
Chastened, Riley sits, and we all direct our attention toward Mom.
“We spoke with the doctor this morning. I’m afraid the news isn’t conclusive. They want to monitor me more closely over the next three months, which means more appointments. I’ll be back and forth to the hospital a little. They won’t know for sure if it’s a progression or just a relapse for a while, but there’s a chance.” She breaks off and her lips are thin as she presses them together. “There’s a chance I’m not going to get better again. Don’t panic. It’s still manageable. It just means making more adjustments and maybe some new meds. But the point is, I won’t be around forever, and I won’t be well forever. So don’t leave it too long. I want to see you both happy while I can enjoy it. Bastien, I couldn’t be more glad that you and Vera finally figured out that you belong together.” She holds up a shaking finger when I open my mouth to protest, and I shut it again with a snap.
“Riley, I say this with love, but you need to start taking life seriously. While you can. Because none of us knows what fate has in store.”
I expect Riley to make some smartass comment, to brush her off, but he’s surprisingly quiet. He stuffs his hands in his pockets and nods. “Yeah. I get it.”
“Now get out of here, all of you, and go live your lives. I’m going home tomorrow, and you can all visit for Sunday dinner just the same as always.” She folds her hands across her chest and nods once and it’s clear that we’ve been dismissed.
I hug her and Dad and we make our goodbyes. Bastien’s hand closes over mine and encases it in warmth as we walk out into the chilly parking lot. “Do you have class tomorrow?”
“Yeah. Not until twelve.”
“You want a lift back to the city, Vera?” asks Riley, who walked out with us.
“Are you staying overnight?” I ask Bas.
He nods. “I’ll have to get up early to get back to Black Pines in the morning, but I’ll stay if you will.”
“Of course.”
“Well. I guess now I’m the third wheel.”
I nudge him. “Now you’ll have to fight me for Bas’ attention not the other way around.”
Riley lingers. His hands are still shoved deep into the pockets of his jacket, and his gaze is on his boots. “I’m sorry,” he says gruffly.
I blink. “You are?”
“Yeah. I didn’t really say it before, did I? Sorry for being such a jerk. To both of you. I guess I’ve got some changes to make.”
I chew my lip. “Do you think Mom’s going to be alright?”
He sighs. “No. But she’ll make the best of it. She always does. She’s strong and is not a quitter. You shouldn’t worry.”
“I will, though.”
He nods. “Yeah, me too.”
I can’t stop myself from hugging him then, and for the first time in a long time, he hugs me back and doesn’t pull away until I do.
I brush a stray tear from my cheek as I do and catch him do the same. “You know you can call me if you want to talk. Or actually come see me.”
“Yeah. I know. Thanks. Maybe I will.”
Bas lifts an arm and beckons Riley into a big bear hug, and I have to look away to stop myself from really crying.
Once we’ve waved him off, we climb into Bastien’s truck and drive back to the hotel. I thought we wouldn’t get much sleep since this will be the last night we spend together this week, but in the end, he just holds me and that feels right. I fall asleep surrounded by his warmth and his scent, and even though all is not right in the world, it’s probably as close as things get.
TWENTY ONE
Bastien
I actually groan aloud as I spot Vera burst from the door of her college dorm building, bright smile on her face. Just seeing her is a physical sensation not unlike releasing a pent-up sneeze. I wasn’t planning on getting out of my truck because the sooner we leave, the sooner we make it to the cute little cabin I’ve booked and the sooner I have her all to myself again.
But it’s been too long since I had my hands and mouth on her body. I leave the door open behind me and catch her when she jumps into my arms with a squeal, planting kisses all over my face. “Oh my god. Oh my god. Hi. I needed this.”
